Conferences

Your Vote Under God

Altered voter guides were secretly distributed at some of our campuses the weekend of October 20–21. To view the correct voter guides, visit the links under Voter Guides below.

“We want to see 100% voter registration and voting at Gateway Church.”
–Pastor Robert Morris

“You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20)

Important Election Dates

Voter Registration and Change of Address (Register)
Early Voting | April 22–May 2Election Day | Saturday, May 5

There are number of trusted organizations in Texas that provide excellent scorecards, measuring how our legislators voted on specific issues and bills. When reviewing scorecards and voting histories of elected officials, it is important to look at multiple sources from their different paradigms.

You may be wondering, “Can my vote make a difference?” In 2008, 40,000 people voted in the race for state representative in District 105, which covers most of Grand Prairie. The election was decided by only 19 votes. Your vote matters, so make sure your voice is heard!

We want to see 100% registration and voting at Gateway Church. If every Christian will vote according to biblical values, we can change the future of our country. Please join us in taking a stand for righteousness so we can continue to be “one nation under God.”

The Secretary of State website says I’m not registered to vote, but I think I am. What should I do?
There are two things you can do. First, go to your county elections website and check your status. Their records may be more complete. Second, you can simply register to vote again. This will not double register you or cause any problems, it will only cause a new voter registration card to be mailed to you, confirming your registration.

Where do I go to vote?
Visit your county elections division website to find your polling place.

Do I need photo ID to vote?
Yes, you will need a photo ID, such as a driver’s license. Other forms of accepted ID can be found on the VoteTexas website’s FAQ page.

Where can I get a voter guide to learn about the candidates’ values?
There is a Tarrant County values-based voter guide (PDF) at VoteUnderGod.com.

Does my vote matter?
It’s estimated there are over 60 million Bible-believing Christians in the United States, but only 30 million of them vote in any given election. This is tragic because those millions of votes could make a huge impact on our nation.

For example, in the 2008 elections, the voting margin in Missouri between the two main presidential candidates was 3,903 votes. In that state, there are approximately 102,522 Christians who didn’t register to vote.

In North Carolina, the voting margin between the two candidates was 14,177 votes. But it’s estimated that there were 281,212 Christians who weren’t registered to vote.

Not only that, but every presidential election in the past 25 years has been won by less than 10 million votes.

So what would happen if 30 million newly registered Christians voted in 2016? Not only could it impact the election, it could also change the future of our nation.

What are biblical reasons to vote?
As Christians, we want to see good public policies enacted that reflect biblical values, especially in the areas of life, marriage, and religious liberty. We can support these policies by voting for principled leaders.

In Exodus 18:21, God told Moses to “select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” This verse gives us a sound pattern to follow in voting: we should choose leaders who are able, truthful, and who fear God.

Because as Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” It’s not enough to be concerned about our nation—we must act on our convictions.

Finally, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth” and “you are the light of the world,” (Matthew 5:13–14). One of the best ways we can be light to a dark world is by taking a quiet, courageous stand for biblical values. And voting is a great way to do it.

How can I vote according to biblical values?(Excerpted from an article by Dr. Wayne Grudem, used by permission.)

Unfortunately, many believers don’t even consider their Christian values when voting, often choosing candidates whose positions are at odds with their own beliefs, convictions, and values. A study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life a few years ago showed that 62% of Americans say their faith has little to do with their voting decisions.

That’s tragic because Jesus expects us to influence every part of culture and society as salt and light—including the democratic process. Founding Father John Jay was appointed by George Washington as the First Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, and Jay said: “It is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

Obviously, Christian “rulers” would have Christian values, right? Not necessarily. There are a lot of folks who use Christian lingo, but when you look at their positions and votes and their associations, it becomes evident that they do not line up with biblical values. That’s why it is so important to do your homework on the candidates.

Don’t just listen to their campaign rhetoric, look at their records in office. Don’t just watch their political ads, look at their positions on the issues. Think about this: Every candidate has his or her own set of values and positions on important issues. Don’t you think that where a candidate stands on moral issues is far more important than the party he or she belongs to or the campaign ads and promises? Shouldn’t we vote for candidates who share our moral values?

Here’s one more point: Don’t align yourself too closely with a political party or a politician. That is unwise because we need to be free to call all political parties and politicians to repentance when they step outside of biblical morality and principle.

So what are these values? I realize that there are multiple opinions among Bible-believing Christians when it comes to issues such as the economy, national security, energy independence, immigration, etc. Certainly there are important moral and cultural issues with public policy implications that Christians should be concerned about and act on, such as poverty, racial equality, environmental stewardship, etc.

However, at this time in American history, let me give you the three values that top my list:

The value of human life. Life is precious, miraculous, sacred ... created by a loving God who makes every human being unique. King David prayed: “My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all [my] days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began” (Psalm 139:151–6, HCSB). God is the Author and Artist of human life.

Consequently, I believe it is our duty as followers of Christ and citizens of America to find out where the candidates stand on the biblical value of life. Ask what their position is on abortion, cloning, embryo-destructive stem cell experimentation, and euthanasia. Find out which candidates are aligned with pro-abortion groups like the National Association for the Repel of Abortion Laws (NARAL) and tax-payer funded abortion provider Planned Parenthood. Find out how they vote or intend to vote on these life issues like Born Alive Infant Protection Act, Partial Birth Ban, Freedom of Choice Act, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, etc.

The value of traditional family. Marriage between one man and one woman is essential. Basic. Necessary. The family is the basic building block of society, and the first institution created by God. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). In fact, the two genders were meant to complete each other physically, emotionally, and in every other way. In Genesis 2:24, God further declares, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Also, both genders are needed for a healthy home. As Dr. James Dobson notes, “More than ten thousand studies have concluded that kids do best when they are raised by mothers and fathers.”

In both the Old Testament and New Testament, one man and one woman in a marriage covenant relationship for life is the divine pattern. And when a marriage follows God’s design, it is good for everyone—men, women, children, the community, the country, and the world. Think about it. Every civilization in history is built upon the institution of marriage. It is the foundation. The welfare of children, the propagation of the faith, the wellbeing of society, and the orderliness of civilization are all dependent upon the stability of marriage according to the divine pattern.

The value of religious freedom. Where a candidate stands on religious freedom and particularly on judicial philosophy is absolutely critical to our ability to continue to have freedom of speech and freedom of conscience in our business dealings and freedom of worship. So find out which candidates are aligned with groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans for Separation of Church and State, who seek to remove all public expressions of religion. Find out which candidates who are for Hate Crimes laws and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which will infringe on our freedoms as Christians. Find out which candidates are in favor of protecting and even restoring America’s Judeo-Christian heritage. Find out where the candidates stand on our First Amendment right to religious freedom.

What else can I do?
First, encourage your family and friends to register to vote and to vote for good leaders who will support biblical values.

Second, be a good steward of your vote by making sure you know where candidates stand on the issues that are important to you. We will have values-based voter guides available on this webpage and at all Gateway Church campuses during the weekends before the elections.

Third, and most importantly, pray that Americans’ hearts will turn toward God and that our leaders will uphold biblical values at every level of government.

Our Founding Fathers and Patriots on Voting

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote … he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
Samuel Adams, 1722–1803 (“Father of the American Revolution”)

“The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics, or the Lord will curse them … God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the church will take right ground.”
Charles Finney, 1792–1875 (Evangelist and Author)

“Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.”
James Garfield, 1831–1881 (20th President of the United States)

Scriptures
“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”
Exodus 18:21

“Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”
Deuteronomy 1:13

“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
2 Samuel 23:3

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
Proverbs 29:2

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Psalm 11:3

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.
Psalm 33:12

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden .... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13–14, 16

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:17–18

“… proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. …”
Leviticus 25:10 (Inscribed on the Liberty Bell)